Great Lakes Scuttlebutt Launch Issue 2017 : Page 60

Dan Armitage BY DAN ARMITAGE BUCKEYE SPORTSMAN RADIO WWW.BUCKEYESPORTSMAN.NET Weight alone doesn’t dictate an anchor’s effectiveness, although it is a significant factor. hether it be to stay put in that perfect cove for a lunch aboard, sleep overnight on the hook, keep a disabled boat from washing aground, or simply to keep anglers aboard within easy casting range of a productive fishing spot, it’s important you have the equipment and know-how necessary to securely anchor your boat in place. In fact, the ability to properly anchor a boat in an emergency situation is important enough that most states require adequate equipment be aboard all recreational watercraft. Any boater who has faced a situation when the ability to anchor their craft meant the difference between a momentary distraction and an all-out disaster understands why. W Staying Put upon the composition of the bottom, be it mud, sand, rock, wood, grass or gravel. The most popular anchor style for Great Lakes pleasure and fishing craft is the Danforth, or “fluked” type, which has a high holding-power-to-weight ratio. These relatively lightweight anchors rest flat on the bottom until tension from the anchor line forces the flukes downward, where they dig into the bottom. The broad stock at the crown prevents the anchor from flipping over and dragging. The Danforth’s holding power in a variety of bottom types, including mud, sand, and clay is good. However, over grass-or rock-covered bottoms, the flukes may skip over the bottom or collect weeds or mud, preventing them from digging into the bottom for a firm hold even with the proper amount of scope. In those conditions, you need to weigh anchor and either stow the Danforth and try another type or move the boat to better bottom and give the Danforth anchor another try. There are alternative fluke-type anchors that bury themselves in use, such as Plow and Bruce styles, and can hold better over sand, grass, or even rock bottoms, but they are more expensive and cumbersome to stow. Mushroom anchors are a third popular anchor type Danforth anchor. How Anchors Work Anchors use a combination of weight and shape to hold the boat to which they are attached in position. The best combination of both features for a particular anchoring situation depends Mushroom anchor. 60 GREATLAKESSCUTTLEBUTT.COM May & June 2017